What To Read While Stuck At Home
Welcome back to the second part of my Stuck At Home series. Today, I’m going to share with you some suggestions of what to read while you cozy up at home. Reading is one of my favorite pastimes, so I’m taking this opportunity to try and read a few books that have been sitting untouched on the shelf for a while, and attempt to get back into my habit of reading one or two short stories a day. I hope this list inspires you to pick up one of these books or browse one of these websites.
WHAT TO READ
BOOKS
These are a few of my current favorites mixed with old favorites, all guaranteed to make time fly as you lose yourself in the pages.
We Were The Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates - This book is long and meandering, perfect if you’re looking for something you can read slowly over a long period of time. While it isn’t action packed, it is filled with emotion and beautiful prose. This is a book that you appreciate more and more as you ponder its meaning and intricacies. Pick up this book if you like reading about families and the deep bonds between them.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion - Didion is simply a master of her craft, and everything she writes is golden. This memoir, written after the sudden passing of her husband, is Didion’s journey through grief, while glancing back on kinder times in her life. Pick up this book if you like reading stories of love and loss, written with electric wit.
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness - This book is pure escapism. Even the style of writing is unique and otherworldly. Ness creates a fantasy sort of world that is unfamiliar to us, but with characters whose hopes, dreams, and motives are all too familiar. Pick up this book if you like fast paced adventure and the classic story of good versus evil.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart - One of my childhood favorites, this book is technically written for the 8-12 age range. But believe me when I say this is merely a suggestion, and any adult who picks up this book will find it just as rewarding as any other, if not more. A group of young children who feel more like adults take on evil with the guidance of a wise, nutty old man. Pick up this book if you like wit, adventure, and tales of friendship.
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway - If you’re looking for classic that isn’t too intimidating, this is a good place to start. Hemingway is a straight forward writer, making his novels easy to understand and follow. While usually I don’t tend to like books about war, this is more a love story than a war tale. Pick up this book if you like a simple tale of love and war.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt - This book is a masterpiece. I can barely put into words how much I love this novel. Tartt creates a story that feels so alive you’ll never want to leave. Pick up this book if you know how to read. Seriously. I think everyone should read this book in their lifetime.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - You probably read this book in a high school English class. If that’s the last time you touched it, I urge you to pick it up and give it a reread. This is a novel that gets better every time you read it. You can’t help but to sympathize with Holden and even start to agree with his ramblings about humanity. Pick up this book if you want to remember everything that is good and bad about the human race.
SHORT STORIES
I love perusing literary websites and reading short, bite sized fiction and essays. Here are a few of the ones I can get lost in for hours.
The New Yorker - Collections of essays going all the way to the early 20th century. I believe you need a subscription to access all of them, but they often run specials that make subscriptions very cheap. A few weeks ago I got a 12 week subscription for 6 dollars. Now might be a good time to use those 12 weeks!
LitHub - An abundance of free short stories, as well as articles about literary craft and criticism. If you’re a literary geek like me, you’ll be entranced by this website for hours.
The Paris Review - You need a subscription to gain full access, but The Paris Review also offers some articles and short stories for free. Everything is meticulously picked, so you know you’re reading the best of the best.
WEBSITES/BLOGS
Just a few of my favorite sites for reading quick articles.
Man Repeller - Great articles about fashion, beauty, wellness, culture, and more. I love the style of writing and all their recommendations.
Cup of Jo - A lifestyle blog that comments on a range of topics from relationships, fashion, motherhood, food, and more. I’ve been reading it for ages, and I just love how cozy and homey this blog feels.
Lolita Says So - Photographer and journalist Emma Hoareau has a beautiful website sharing her favorite beauty products, as well as some of her photography work.
What have you been reading lately?